Monday, October 31, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:Silence is sometimes an answer.Estonian ProverbSilence answers many things, sometimes more powerfully than a ton of words ever could. If you doubt that think back a bit to a certain look aimed your way from either parent when you acted out as a child. No words were necessary to adjust a runaway attitude. Being muted by a look is unnerving to say the least.Sometimes silence is an agreement, sometimes it is exactly the opposite. And it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out the difference. Reading body language is a must for correctly defining a silent answer. Paying attention should be easy without the distraction of idle words, making a silent answer one of the loudest ever heard.

THINK ABOUT IT

LET IT GROW

THEN DECIDE

I got this as an email, forwarded it to some and put it here as is my habit.

We can now add to the list of victims the retired 77 yr. old TCU professor from Ft Worth whose body was found last week in Oklahoma--and the 11 yr. old in Sarasota, FL. Because of these recent abductions in daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation...This is for you, and for you to share with your wife, your children, everyone you know. After reading these 9 crucial tips, forward them to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you....chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS!) The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat.B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP. It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her "Whatever you do, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR." The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, "We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR." He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night. Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby ----This e-mail should probably be taken seriously because the Crying Baby theory was mentioned on America's Most Wanted this past Saturday when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana. I'd like you to forward this to all the women you know. It may save a life. A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle. I was going to send this to the ladies only, but guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc., you may want to pass it onto them, as well. Send this to any woman you know that may need to be reminded that the world we live in has a lot of crazies in it and it's better to be safe than sorry.

Sunday, October 30, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanging; it is the skin of a living thought and may vary greatly in color and content according to the circumstances and the time in which it is used.Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935)Careful choosing of words is important when misunderstandings seem likely, since some people have selective hearing. Giving them as little as possible to manipulate is a smart move in any debate. If there is any chance of having your own words thrown back in your face, it just makes good sense to avoid arming other people with anything heavy that might be utilized against you later. And it is usually better to keep it as simple as possible for clarity sake. Let's face it folks, all is not fair in love, war, or word use.Have you ever noticed how the computer puts language to a special kind of test whenever many locations speak together in one place. Many words and praises used by people in one country mean something quite different in another. Confusion can be mostly avoided by suspending all urges to assume and gently question any statement that makes you go hmmmmmmmmmm.Timing is also essential to good communication; if everyone is speaking nobody is really listening. And a single word, of a positive nature, well placed in a timely manner can defuse even the most volatile situation. Shoving a negative one in is like lighting a firecracker with a blow torch. Use your words wisely, but also time them so the do the most to heal or help. Thoughts voiced without forethought are often thoughtless enough to leave open wounds that take years to heal, if they ever do. Think before you speak and you will have to do much less apologizing later on. But if necessary please remember that eating crow is always easier when it is still warm.

Saturday, October 29, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:That man is the richest whose pleasures are cheapest.Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)This quote fits me, which is a good thing in my eyes. I feel blessed to have earned this quality by having so little to choose from in the way of enjoyment. I could have looked only at the things I could not do and ached with bitterness at my misfortune. But instead I held what I could get close enough to block out anything negative that would steal my joy. Simple things thrill me.Everything has a magical flavor when you think about it. Life itself is a miracle. Sunshine can caress a soul. Music can make it fly. A kiss can soothe any ache. A friend is a glorious treasure. Irony is cheap entertainment. Laughter is the best medicine. Time heals all wounds, if you let it. Silence is golden. Kindness is worth the effort, even when its makes you struggle.Love makes the world go round. Loving who you are makes it rotate faster, without that bothersome wobble. The sky is only the limit if that is all the higher you can dream. No matter who you are today, you can be whoever you choose tomorrow. A smile is a gift of joy passed to someone else which when returned brightens even the darkest place. Being rich in small pleasures is pure delight, everything else is simply gravy. And who wants to eat a full meal on only the gravy?

Friday, October 28, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:Many persons think that by hoarding money they are gaining safety for themselves. If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man can have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability. Without these qualities, money is practically useless.Henry Ford (1863-1947)The things invested in mind and heart cannot be touched by wealth or the lack of it. I have little in one regard, and much in another. I would not trade one for the other. To possess both must be wonderful, yet if I can only have one I will gladly take the one I already possess.Money is not my God. And hoarding it is not my habit, but I am really no fair judge since I have never had much. I do like the special security of having all the bills paid, each month; at present that is all the safety I can afford. But in knowledge, experience, and ability I have a bit more to bring to the table.My independence comes at a cost that money cannot pay. I was stunted and shrunk by the life I once had, freeing myself from its baggage is an never ending struggle that makes my life now worth living. I tug and pull at the ties that bind old fears to a mind weary of trembling. I know before long I will be entering a time of vast change, I can feel myself gathering energy to spring forward. All recent lessons have been about the future, complete with tests at the end of each chapter finished.A period of growth, like no other before, is upon me. I am a much different person than I was six weeks ago, with no end in sight. The life changing process, going on inside of me, is more priceless to me than all the money in the world. But it is often quite unnerving.I had forgotten how overpowering it feels to fear the fact that things may never change more than I fear the change itself. I have felt it before, but never with such intensity. This time it is all the more so because I am well aware that time is limited. The pressure of a deadline makes it weigh heavier upon me, which has only prodded me into action with a vengeance.In the last few weeks I have learned several important things. Now I know that standing in place, even for a short time, builds ruts. Now I realize the safety inside a four cornered room inspires fear of what lies outside its gentle walls. I was forced by reality to admit that a tower princess must fight her own demons to unlock the door of her pretty prison. I not only unlocked the damn thing, but unhinged it too and burnt it for safety sake. I have personal proof that a soul will scream as loud as necessary to get a person in gear when it is given a voice. And last, but certainly not least, doing something you are certain you cannot do makes anything seem possible.

Thursday, October 27, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:It is one of the commonest of mistakes to consider that the limit of our power of perception is also the limit of all there is to perceive.Charles Webster Leadbeater (1854-1934)The world is multi layered, with things easily seen, covering others that must be dug up to be examined. Everything around us has roots leading to something deeper. What is seen is just the tiniest tip of an ever growing iceberg. But way too many of us wear blinders that keep out true perception. I was once among that group, but each minute that passes brings me ever nearer to true understanding of things I sense all around. It may seem easier to be short sighted, yet it is only an illusion that will steal all your possibilities.At the moment I am doing some much needed house cleaning of a mind over crowded with fears placed there by hands not my own. It is high time to grow beyond the boundaries of the past in this regard. I have many lessons to learn that cannot be encompassed by a brain filled with senseless fears, rooted in past events. As long as I allow them to hold me tight, I will be frozen in this place. And that is not my way. No matter how painful the growing pains become I am determined to suffer them as bravely as possible.I stumble on, making strides, making mistakes, making misteps that beg instantly to be retraced. I cry out with a silent scream that only one set of ears has had the perfect pitch to understand. I cherish the validation and strive to overcome the things that hold me back. No matter what occurs I will never be the same from the experience of being so thoroughly understood.My perception has been adjusted to a fever pitch. But I still have a lifetime of study and practice ahead of me. As each veil of the past is torn away and tossed aside, my sight will broaden to include a deeper level of understanding. And I welcome each new insight. I am almost finished with hindsight; foresight has become my new master. And true perception is my creed. The sky is not the limit; there are no limits to the space I inhabit now, unless I place them there.I am sure that many misteps will come along the journey. But knowing them when I see them will only make me turn around more quickly. Retracing steps is no shame when your destination is the right track that you stepped off of by mistake. The only mistakes to regret are the ones you did nothing to rectify. And I hope to possess none of that sort.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow Roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!"Jack Kerouac (1922-1969)I often feel electric, popping and crackling with such joy at the mere fact that I am me. I hunger for more, while basking in what is my reality each day. I read for understanding and connect for clarity, always eager to know the why of things, never satisfied with the surface of anything I touch.Some might call me mad, I have been known to say so from time to time myself. But if this is madness I mind not much at all to suffer from it. I see sane ones who complain constantly about boredom, which is a condition I have never had the displeasure of feeling. A seeker never tires of searching. A wise one realizes just how little they know and is ever hungry to learn. And one who was half alive for so long is ever reaching to catch up, which leaves no time for boredom.Be a bit mad from time to time. Let life empower you with a joy that comes from the miracle of being a member of the human race. Hunger to know. Thirst for understanding of self and your special location in the cosmos. Get as much out of your time here as possible. Leave regret behind and learn all you can from even the worst of experiences. Live, for real, or die trying. To me that is the only path available.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:Every day is a little life: every waking and rising a little birth, every fresh morning a little youth, every going to rest and sleep a little death.Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)Every morning is a rebirth to me, daily chances for improving whatever was accomplished the day before are a gift of every new dawning. If I was born feeling that way life stole the notion soon enough to be beyond the reach of my memory. For the first forty years, time was mostly something I struggled through. But nowadays each one is precious and my awareness of their promise is complete.I lived without knowing how lifeless I really was. Awakening has given me hyper consciousness of the moment. I try to own as many as possible; not knowing how many I possess only makes them that much more precious. I like to imagine that the amount of moments is not as important as how long you can stretch them.Quantity simply has to figure less in the long run than quality, or none of us has a fair shake at happiness. Stretch all your moments. Wring them dry of every drop of joy. Own them proudly, even the simple ones that seem ordinary at first glance. Every tick of the clock is a journey forward through life. And forward is such a wondrous direction to be headed.

Monday, October 24, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:Surely it is sublime to think that the brain is a castle, and that within its curious bastions and winding halls the soul, in spite of all worlds and all beings, is the supreme sovereign of itself.Robert Green Ingersoll (1833-1899)"Individuality", 1873In every way that matters our brain is our castle; what sort of castle it resembles is up to us, we hold the power to make it a place of bright light or of dark shadow. It can be open for tours or a perfect place to hide, with walls so thick nothing can penetrate. I have lived in various castles, during my lifetime, and I am still struggling to be completely free of the walls of the last one.I have called myself a tower princess for two years, but the time of resting safe and secure behind old walls is quickly drawing to a close. The feeling of being smothered has been replaced by a breathlessness that makes my soul sing. Only I hold myself here now, and realizing that has set me free. Where I end up is anyone's guess, but wherever it is I know it will be a lifetime away from this place that knew so much darkness and shadow.Walls erected in defense are no longer necessary. Locks forged from fear lay shattered at my feet. The drawbridge is down, guards dismissed, old armor discarded, old habits tossed away, new horizons examined, and a new castle ready for occupation in a universe I will create as I go.

Sunday, October 23, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:The fountain of content must spring up in the mind, and he who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts and multiply the grief he proposed to remove.Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)Truth just oozes from this quote. Contentment flows from a spring, buried deep inside each of us. Some springs get overgrown with weeds, while we are still children. Some are covered by debris later in life. But no matter how clogged or hidden, it exists and is just waiting for discovery.Looking for it in someone else or in perfect external conditions will leave you still searching, no matter who you love or what lofty station you inhabit. Finding the spring cannot be achieved by looking outward, because the path to it travels inward.Once it is tapped the possibilities for satisfaction are limitless. When you free yourself from the burden of seeking elsewhere what rests inside then nothing can upend you for long. And contentment will belong to you, no matter what else you own.

Saturday, October 22, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing.Clive James (b.1939)The safety net that catches us when we fall is our capacity to laugh. Things of tragic importance, one moment, become food for our funny bone with just a space of time added to the mix. Humor is a great balancing pole. And it leaves such a pleasant sensation behind.Common sense should always prevail and lend music, of the right tempo, for dancing senses to take control and get us past the weighty times, when carrying any more is impossible without a re-charge. Laughter revamps our systems. Even the passive act of simply hearing someone else's mirth leaves us lighter spirited. We need not even know what inspired it, to be touched by its magic fingers.Laughter is a great energy gage, automatically adding vitality or releasing pent up nerves, whatever the occasion desires. When our senses dance little explosions of delight go off in perfect synch all over our bodies. Reveling in it just makes good common sense. Without humor it would be all too easy to slip into senselessness, and that makes no sense at all.Dance when you get invited, or sway to the music of someone else's song. Dance with a group if possible, or alone when the urge comes upon you. Dance with gusto. Dance with joy. Dance... Dance... Dance...

Friday, October 21, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:A truth that's told with bad intentBeats all the Lies you can invent.William Blake (1757-1827)Telling a truth to wound is as criminal as bringing a cannon to a fist fight. You may win, but it is certainly no occasion for celebration. Words are lethal weapons and should be handled carefully, not tossed about, as if they have no power at all. Intentionally causing pain just seems like such a poor use of truth.

Thursday, October 20, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:It is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and occupation, which give happiness.Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)Happiness is not externally produced then purchased and applied to grief or sadness. If we go through life without some degree of happiness the fault is our own. We can find it inside or invite it there by design, but it will simply not barge its way past a locked door, no matter our status or situation.The poor and the wealthy have the same capacity for unhappiness, they simply have some different reasons for being melancholy. But all of us have the same reason for seeking a happier state. Being satisfied with any less just goes against human nature. We are a greedy breed with a natural urge to feel good as often as possible. And every person has a similar path that leads to the place inside where it flows from. The ease or difficulty of that personal trail does not depend upon the size of a bank account. But it does depend on the amount of commitment you put into finding even a grain of joy and building upon it, no matter how faint.Tranquility is defined as stillness. Internal serenity is not an effortless endeavor. Time must be utilized wisely. Truth must be faced squarely, no matter how unpleasant. The blame game cannot be pulled out to ease your journey; it only mucks things up to place the fault for your unhappiness upon other shoulders. But silence of the soul is worth whatever must be overcome to reach its borders.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever.Chinese sayingThe habit of acting as if you can simply figure everything out by pretending as if it is already known or blundering until it is stumbled upon by mistake wastes tons of time. I hate feeling foolish, but appearing clueless need not be a thing akin to shame, since it is a condition we all suffer from.The best way to find out any unknown is to ask someone who knows. Find out as soon as possible and use the time gained in a more constructive way than going in endless circles looking for the invisible.Being a fool by accident is a lot more sensible, than doing so purposely. And a forever fool is someone more interested in appearing infallible than in being real. Wasting time trying to be in the know with no information to back up the action only makes an easy retreat impossible. Better to ask early, and free yourself from the need of swallowing crow past a throat constricted by frustration.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tries, and a touch that never hurts.Charles DickensA pure heart, never hardened by life, is a rare thing. How many people do you know who do not hold some firmness inside that organ for something or someone? It may seem easier to embrace a boulder, than it is to shove it out of the way. But it is easier still to climb over, or walk around it. A few extra steps, taken to avoid an obstacle, is a small price to pay for a lighter heart.A temper never ignited by anger is even rarer; some things just naturally tick you off. Irritations are a part of life, but clawing at them only adds to the itch. Being angry is no sin, but giving it control is like riding bareback upon a galloping horse, reins flapping in the wind.Touch should be a gift, transcending far beyond where mere fingertips can reach. But all too often it is more of a punishment than a present. Some touches leave wounds far below the surface, long after the bruises fade. Have gentle hands that gift a soothing feeling to all they touch. Caresses never leave scars, but they can certainly heal them.

Monday, October 17, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:The cyclone derives its powers from a calm center. So does a person.Norman PealeInternal turbulence inspires storms that destroy everything in sight. One persons demons level the landscape for miles around; petty hardships quickly escalate to dramatic levels with just a bit of wind being directed toward the spark of misfortune. But calm is an impregnable shelter, protecting whatever it surrounds.Serenity is a fortress beyond description, a state of oneness where all corners intertwine. Inside of its borders debris is handled as soon as it enters airspace. Damage control is an automatic response to any calamity. Each occurrence of panic is but a moment in length, before it dissipates like fog bathed in the light of reason. Core strength increases with every exercise in balance.A nucleus without structure or balance is simply one that has never been focused on by its owner. Reformat, reboot, relax, reflect, and reexamine the magical space that is yours alone. Peace is an option that must be invited, it will not seek you out if you are unaware of all the possiblities it offers. Allow a calm center to protect your landscape, during the stormy seasons, and strength will be your reward.

Sunday, October 16, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:Anybody can become angry-that is easy, but to be angry with the right person, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right purpose, and in the right way-that is not within everybody's power and is not easy.AristotleAnger has its positive side, if utilized in a way that balances temper with good sense. But if rage has complete control it becomes a two edged sword; it always cuts both ways, without our tempering the force applied, the direction aimed, and the length held onto. When it takes up residence in heart, mind, or soul it becomes akin to cancer, eating away at healthy tissue.That is not to say I never feel the emotion, but I say what I must then let it go. Grudges and actions inspired by spitefulness are more the burden of the ones holding them than the ones they are directed toward. I have noticed that the ones who make me the most often angry are the ones who do not give a flip what I think anyway.It would be foolish to cook a huge meal for someone who will not dine, and even more irritating to imagine their glee at watching me toil. My anger can be earned, my censure received, but my balance and piece of mind are not up for grabs. Any investment, taking that much time and energy should leave a positive behind. And anger that outlives its time and place is much too costly for my taste.

Saturday, October 15, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:He who establishes his argument by noise and command, shows that his reason is weak. Michel de MontaigneBeing the loudest voice heard does not make your opinion any more sound than it would be at a softer level or a gentler tone. Brashness and volume do not add truth to a falsehood or make a fact more factual. But it is too often used as a tool, even though it breaks more things than it ever fixes.I lived with a man who roared and although I heard the noise, I cannot say that I always absorbed the words. Panic to please and stem the flow was automatic in all within earshot, but real connecting and communication was impossible. His reason was weak, but he was weak for a reason.Understanding that only excused so much then it became his responsibility to alter, if he saw fit, not for our sake as much as for his own. It was a horrible burden to carry all that pain, with only the release of anger to satisfy the ache for a moment, at a time. I do not remember the words he said in anger as well as I do the ones he whispered.Face noise creates instant chaos. The air vibrates and everything it touches shakes and shudders. Lowering the volume, even just a bit, gets your point across in a way that will insure that the message will be remembered. Firm words carry a weight all their own, needing no amplification to make them weigh more heavily upon the listener. If all you care about is volume, instead of focusing upon content, then it becomes a weak reason to speak at all.

Friday, October 14, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:The man who is aware of himself is henceforward independent; and he is never bored, and life is only too short, and he is steeped through and through with a profound yet temperate happiness. He alone lives, while other people, slaves of ceremony, let life slip past them in a kind of dream.Virginia WoolfBeing independently aware is not all wine and roses, sometimes it demands taking hard looks at things and making informed decisions to change things that will only cause more damage than good in the end. Cloud nine is a nice place to visit, but reality can slam you to the ground in a second flat. Having the capacity to face truths and still find happiness is a byproduct of total awareness.I faced some of those kinds of truths today, but it did not upend my happiness. Learning from everything is my creed. Love is risky, sometimes worth of the chances, sometimes not. Life has one kind of hardship on a solo flight, quite another with a co-pilot. Bottled rage cannot coexist with total peace without one of them being altered, and I just do not possess the energy, or the inclination to force a change in someone else or allow one to be forced upon me.Love remains, but transformed into what it is, not what is wished for. Independent awareness of self knows the whys of things, understands the limits, crosses the boundaries to meet needs to wants, then crosses back again, without spite, when the occasion demands it.I was unhappy forever, it seems, and determination to hold onto the silence of my soul is the birthright I received at my awakening. This tower princess is not happy with the location of her castle, but she is very satisfied and happy with the location of self. To be me is a wondrous thing, and as long as I remain true to that and adopt lessons learned as I go, I will be more than happy, I will be truly alive.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:Apathy is a sort of living oblivion.Horace GreeleyThe word apathy means indifference, and oblivion is defined as the state of being totally lost and forgotten. None of the words used in this quote inspire images of a life worth the living. Passion for life, inspires an internal excitement that lifts you up above everyday cares, and if you are watchful its effect upon others soon becomes evident.Joy gives off an energy that draws attention in ways nothing else does. I was gifted with about a dozen smiles today that I would not have received if I had been apathetic in my attitude. Complete strangers responded to my energy in a positive way, which tells me that what I feel inside shows on the outside.I fear the oblivion I used to live in enough to guard against it ever returning. I carry extra smiles and hand them out as I travel along, brightening the landscape I travel through. It is not the trip that matters so much as the vehicle you travel in. Today my carriage was powered with excitement and it showed.Watch other faces and notice how they respond to your reflection, when they gaze your way. If you see little or nothing it just might be because you are reflecting little or nothing of worth. Maybe they see only apathy. Reflect something worth seeing and you will be blessed with a much more beautiful landscape, no matter your location.

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to a thing till it gets there.Billings JoshThe glue humans use to stick to a thing till it gets there is determination. The more you apply the stickier you become. Persistent willpower produces the strongest kind of adhesive, keeping us anchored to task until completed. But it must be smeared on by choice with firm strokes, not simply talked about with strong words.Some things we need glued to because they are chores, other's require paste due to the fear they inspire. The tasks we dread utilize one kind of cement, the changes we fear demand quite another. Knowing the difference and applying the correct strength better guarantees the usefulness of our determination.The drive to do something, even though at times you would rather not do them, needs no glue. Stopping the natural flow of fated things is impossible. Those items seem to come pre-glued and trying to un-stick them is pointless. I could no more stop what I do here, at Journey's End, than I could cease breathing just by holding my breath.Use whatever glue is necessary to stick to a thing till it gets there. Spread it on thick enough to last for as long as needed, so that return to sender does not get stamped upon your efforts.

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:If you don't invest very much, then defeat doesn't hurt very much and winning is not very exciting.Dick Vermeil, American Football Coach

Most of the world has been conquered, very little space remains free of our boundless curiosity. But that does not mean that each of us cannot ever hope to discover uncharted territory. A universe resides inside of us, just waiting to be explored or ignored, whichever we choose to do. And free-will once again raises its head.

Self awareness is a journey we all have the chance to take, no matter how stunted our orbit is in the world at large. The trip can last as long as need be, and the treasures gathered are only limited to the investment made in the tools used to get to whatever destination chosen. How many of us would begin to travel without map or compass to lead the way?

Invest the time and energy necessary to plot some kind of course. Gift yourself with a broader internal view. Learn what makes you tick and why. Release the burden you carry that others planted deep inside, when you were unprotected or unaware enough to accept the extra weight. Stop holding yourself in place to please the masses, and decide what will ease your load. Invest in the future, instead of reliving the past.

Sunday, October 09, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word 'crisis.' One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger - but recognize the opportunity.Richard M. Nixon 37th president of US (1913 - 1994)The opportunities of any crisis are almost endless, hidden strengths can be discovered, or unforgettable lessons can be taught to others just from outlasting an obstacle. When a dark time dawns in your world, be the light that leads the way to safety. Do your best not to add to the darkness, which needs no assistance. Give what is due to the piper, but not one bit more than any situation demands.Look for a positive in every hardship; focus on what can be gained, in experience, in patience, in wisdom. One step forward, then the next, eyes on the prize, no matter how small. Do not give into the urge to allow any crisis to be life draining, but allow the insights gained to be life creating. The valiant warrior is due the spoils, fight bravely then collect the bounty.

THINK ABOUT IT

LET IT GROW

THEN DECIDE

Please read the text below about the stamp; it's worth doing. And pass it on! ALRIGHT EVERYONE, lets do this!!!!!! We need those of you who are great at forwarding information to your e-mail network. Please read and pass this on. It would be wonderful if 2005 were the year a cure for breast cancer were found!!!! This is one e-mail you should be glad to pass on. The notion that we could raise $35 million by buying a book of stamps is powerful!As you may be aware, the US Postal Service recently released its new "Fund the Cure" stamp to help fund breast cancer research. The stamp was designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Maryland. It is important that we take a stand against this disease that affects so many of our mothers, sisters and friends.Instead of the routine 37 cents for a stamp, this one cost 40 cents. The additional 3 cents will go to breast cancer research. A "normal" book costs $7.40. This one is only $8.00. It takes a few minutes in line at the Post Office and means so much. If all stamps are sold, it will raise an additional $35,000,000 for this vital research.Just as important as the money is our support. What a statement it would make if the stamp outsold the lottery this week. What a statement it would make that we care. I would urge you to do two things TODAY:1. Go out and purchase some of these stamps.2. E-mail your friends to do the same.We all know women and their families whose lives are turned upside-down by breast cancer. It takes so little to do so much in this drive. I think we can all afford the additional 60 cents the new book costs.Please help & pass this on

Saturday, October 08, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.George Bernard Shaw Irish dramatist & socialist (1856 - 1950)Every footstep taken forward holds the possibility of being a mistake, but standing still embraces that certainty. To do nothing is criminal, signaling indifference to a gift as magical as a lifetime. Simply put, any attempt is better than no attempt at all.Risking a mistake is one of life's greatest gambles and the odds instantly tip in the favor of anyone with enough balls to play the hand dealt with confidence.Win or lose, either offers unique benefits. Any attempt, ending in victory has an instant reward, but getting any good out of losing takes effort. Some of my worst loses gained me more ground than most of my victory's. Learning all you can from a painful defeat can make winning easier the next round and the next.Doing nothing at all leaves you resting in place, getting older and older, but accomplishing nothing of worth. The difference between being as motionless as a boulder or as forward surging as a river is evident. I would rather be a stream, ever reaching toward the sea than a stone, ever stuck upon the shore. Risking a mistake is part of the price of becoming a free flowing water way.

Friday, October 07, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:The average man, who does not know what to do with his life, wants another one which will last forever.Anatole France French novelist (1844 - 1924)I suppose average is a term that does not apply here, because I never have wished for another life, but I do hunger for this one to be full. It would seem petty to ask for more, if I constantly wasted the one I already possess. In this I am proud to be above the average.Soul-dreams lead me toward a reality that shifts in an ever growing pattern, like a kaleidoscope of intense colors never even imagined before. I ache to reach peaceful shores, even though I realize the getting there will be anything but peaceful. The grasping of one thing, requires the letting go of another. New beginnings demand the ending of old tired things, better ended, yet familiar and safe in their own way.I want to use my time to grow strong enough not to require grasping onto anything of this world besides the power inside myself. I know what I want to do, but often fumble with the how to get it done. Learning the how is a worthy pastime for any life worth having and if done well will be more rewarding than anything handed to me. I plan on being much too busy living this lifetime to wonder, even for a moment, about acquiring another.

Thursday, October 06, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed.Storm JamesonThe hardest thing, for me, on that list is to risk life, which makes it the one I often have to force feed myself. All the years of change will mean little, in the long run, if I let where I am be good enough to satisfy. It seems I am not really happy unless one part of my brain is screaming, in protest, for another portion to sit down and shut up.Peace at any cost is no way to live. But major changes cause major upheavals, and I am in an almost constant metamorphic mode. Fighting it does no more good than a woman in labor just getting up and walking away, thinking that will stop the inevitable pain of birth.Old demons surface, like a blanket of fog, inspiring actions programmed years ago. Letting echoes of the past silence the music of today seems like paying twice for something you never wanted in the first place. By nature, I would rather simply surrender, but by experience I know I cannot keep paying for nothing with everything that is in me or before long I will be empty.It took me a long time to realize that being uneasy or uncomfortable is not the same thing as being unhappy. And risking momentary comfort for a chance at real happiness, seems less risky than abandoning any chance for the sake of peace. Ruts are made that way, inhabited that way, and clung to that way. And ruts have many comforts, but happiness is not among them.

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably coifed and shaved perfectly applied, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window."I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy."Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.""That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied."Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it ""It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life.Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories! . Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing." Remember the five simple rules to be happy:1. Free your heart from hatred.2. Free your mind from worries.3. Live simply.4. Give more.5. Expect less.

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:"The last of the human freedoms is to choose one's attitudes"Victor FrankelFree-will, gives us the option of deciding so much more than we realize, everything in us and around us is colored by the attitude we surround it with. Viewing attitude as a frame of mind, similar to what surrounds a picture, can help in the reasoning process necessary to change your perception of who has the real power, the picture or the frame.I have seen some beautiful pictures ruined by ugly frames and some ugly pictures enhanced by beautiful ones. But nothing is quite as breathtaking as when they are in perfect synch, yet in an imperfect world that is a rare thing and never an accident. Careful attention shows; a proper frame is sometimes more important than what it holds, in the long run.The real quality of life, or the lack thereof, comes from the attitude it is framed with. Point of view is not something that should be fallen into. A negative outlook is an ugly frame, it can spoil even the most beautiful picture. Our faces wear our attitudes, enhancing its vision or muting any beauty. Why not frame things with light, instead of shadow?Negativity ages humans faster than anything external; what destroys inside withers us, like a flower ripped up by the roots then compressed by weight, will retain just a shadow of its former beauty. Positive frames flatter not only what they surround, but also enhance in a deeper way that leaves a lasting impression on those who gaze upon it.

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:Diplomacy is the art of saying, 'Nice doggie,' until you can find a rock.Will Rogers (1879-1935)I have often been in the 'Nice doggie' position of trying to defang an attacker before they had the time for a good bite. Words are my weapons, of reason, since I dislike the idea of violence as a treatment for what I view as a kind of temporary insanity on their part. Mad dogs are usually mad for a reason, if I am not the cause of their madness, I am not instantly threatened by it.That does not mean I would not defend myself, if need be, but my nature requires trying a gentler touch than a stone, flung in panic. A diplomat uses well chosen words to get a point across, often without seeming to be doing so.Some snapping dogs can be gentled, some only need to see the rock before backing down from an attack, other's require more force. I just look for the thorn in their paw, when other people are seeking for stones.

THINK ABOUT IT

LET IT GROW

THEN DECIDE

This poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a New York Hospital. It was sent by a medical doctor. Make sure to read what is in the closing statement AFTER THE POEM.

SLOW DANCEHave you ever watched kids, on a merry-go-round?Or listened to the rain, slapping on the ground?Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?You better slow down. Don't dance so fast.Time is short. The music won't last.Do you run through each day on the fly?When you ask How are you? Do you hear the reply?When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,With the next hundred chores, running through your head?You'd better slow down. Don't dance so fast.Time is short. The music won't last.Ever told your child, "We'll do it tomorrow?"And in your haste, not see his sorrow?Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die,Cause you never had time, to call and say,"Hi"You'd better slow down. Don't dance so fast.Time is short. The music won't last.When you run so fast to get somewhere,You miss half the fun of getting there.When you worry and hurry through your day,It is like an unopened gift.... Thrown away.Life is not a race. Do take it slower.Hear the music. Before the song is over.

FORWARDED E-MAILS ARE TRACKED TO OBTAIN THE TOTAL COUNT. Dear All: PLEASE pass this mail on to everyone you know -even to those you don't know!It is the request of a special girl who will soon leave this world due to cancer. This young girl has 6 months left to live, and as her dying wish, she wanted to send a letter telling everyone to live their life to the fullest, since she never will.She'll never make it to prom, graduate from high school, or get married and have a family of her own.By you sending this to as many people as possible, you can give her and her family a little hope, because with every name that this is sent to, The American Cancer Society will donate 3 cents per name to her treatment and recovery plan.One guy sent this to 500 people! So I know that we can at least send it to 5 or 6 (just think, it could be you one day). It's not even your money, just your time!PLEASE PASS ON AS A LAST REQUESTDr. Dennis Shields, Professor Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology 1300 Morris Park AvenueBronx, New York 10461

Monday, October 03, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."John WoodenMaking the best of a bad situation is empowering. Wasted tears or impotent rages are as useless as trying to breathe underwater. There are very few disadvantages that cannot be turned around, in one way or another, but the first step has to happen internally. As long as attitude is flooding the landscape with negatives, the positives will remain hidden.Each day has the same promise, not for ease of travel, but for the chance to learn from the journey. To have the strength to see past the ugliness, to the beauty in every moment, demands that you pick and choose the things that get under your skin. Every morning is a gift, which can be opened slowly and savored or ripped into with greed, certain that you deserve a flawless treasure.Bad things happen to all, none of us are immune to the cost of living. What happens to us is often out of our control, but the price we pay differs by the amount we offer. Do your very best to pay only what is necessary then travel on with true wisdom, well earned and deserved.

THINK ABOUT IT

LET IT GROW

THEN DECIDE Drug Recall - Important to Printout

All drugs containing PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE are being recalled. You may want to try calling the 800 number listed on most drug boxes and inquire about a REFUND Please read this CAREFULLY. Also, please pass this on to everyone you know.STOP TAKING anything containing this ingredient. It has been linked to increased hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in brain) among women ages 18-49 in the three days after starting use of medication. Problems were not found in men, but the FDA recommended that everyone (even children) seek alternative medicine. The following medications contain Phenylpropanolamine:Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite SuppressantAcutrim Plus Dietary SupplementsAcutrim Maximum Strength Appetite ControlAlka-Seltzer Plus Children's Cold Medicine EffervescentAlka-Seltzer Plus Cold medicine (cherry or or ange)Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold MedicineOriginal Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough Medicine EffervescentAlka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Flu MedicineAlka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus EffervescentAlka Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold MedicineBC Allergy Sinus Cold PowderBC Sinus Cold PowderComtrex Flu Therapy & Fever Relief Day & NightContac 12-Hour Cold CapsulesContac 12 Hour CapletsCoricidin D Cold, Flu & SinusDexatrim Caffeine FreeDexatrim Extended DurationDexatrim GelcapsDexatrim Vitamin C/Caffeine FreeDimetapp Cold & Allergy Chewable TabletsDimetapp Cold & Cough Liqui-GelsDimetapp DM Cold & Cough ElixirDimetapp ElixirDimetapp 4 Hour Liquid GelsDimetapp 4 Hour TabletsDimetapp 12 Hour Extentabs TabletsNaldecon DX Pediatric DropsPermathene Mega-16Robitussin CFTavist-D 12 Hour Relief of Sinus & Nasal CongestionTriaminic DM Cough ReliefTriaminic Expectorant Chest & HeadTriaminic Syrup Cold & AllergyTriaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough ....I just found out and called the 800# on the container for Triaminic and they informed me that they are voluntarily recalling the following medicines because of a certain ingredient that is causing strokes and seizures in children:Orange 3D Cold & Allergy Cherry (Pink)3D Cold & Cough Berry3D Cough Relief Yellow 3D ExpectorantThey are asking you to call them at 800-548-3708 with the lot number on the box so they can send you postage for you to send it back to them, and they will also issue you a refund. If you know of anyone else with small children, PLEASE PASS THIS ON. THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF! DO PASS ALONG TO ALL ON YOUR MAILING LIST so people are informed. They can then pass it along to their families. To confirm these findings please take time to check the following: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa/PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR CHILDREN IN CASE THEY GIVE IT TO THEIR CHILDREN OR TO FRIENDS WHO HAVE CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN

Sunday, October 02, 2005

TODAY'S QUOTE:"Some men give up their designs when they have almost reached the goal; While others, on the contrary, obtain a victory by exerting, at the last moment, more vigorous efforts than ever before."Herodotus (5th century BC), Greek historianThe one who finishes the race, in the victors position, is not always the fastest one out of the starters box, but they are always the ones who did not give up, no matter what obstacle they had to hurdle to get there. One more try is sometimes enough.Vigorous efforts take passion of purpose, dedication to detail, and stubbornness of spirit. Do not abandon dreams of victory, because of who or how many run with you. The effort factor may have them eating your dust, long before the race is done. But if you lose heart and stop trying they win by default.To hand over a victory is much worse than not trying at all. Value your dreams enough to feed them or just let them die of starvation, teasing them with false hope of victory is a brutal use of something as magical as a soul's wish.

THINK ABOUT IT

LET IT GROW

THEN DECIDE

I received this as an email, forwarded it to friends then place it here in hopes of alerting the most people possible.Through a Rapist's Eyes

This is important information for females of ALL ages.Guys - please forward to the female members of your family and all your female friends and associates. When this was sent to me, I was told to forward it to my lady friends. I forwarded it to most everyone in my address book. My men friends have female friends and this information is too important to miss someone so please pass it along.A group of rapists and date rapists in prison were interviewed on what they look for in a potential victim and here are some interesting facts:

1) The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun, braid or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common targets.

2) The second thing men look for is clothing. They will look for women who's clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors around specifically to cut clothing.

3) They also look for women on their cell phone, searching through their purse or doing other activities while walking because they are off guard and can be easily overpowered.

4) Men are most likely to attack & rape in the early morning, between 5:00a.m. and 8:30a.m.5) The number one place women are abducted from/attacked is grocery store parking lots. Number two is office parking lots/garages. Number three is public restrooms.6) The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to another location where they don't have to worry about getting caught.7) Only 2% said they carried weapons because rape carries a 3-5 year sentence but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years.8) If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn't worth it because it will be time-consuming.

9) These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas, or other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their hands. Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys you're not worth it.

10) Several defense mechanisms he taught us are: If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question, like what time is it, or make general small talk: "I can't believe it is so cold out here", "we're in for a bad winter." Now you've seen their face and could identify them in a line-up; you lose appeal as a target.

11) If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell STOP or STAY BACK ! Most of the rapists this man talked to said they'd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target.

12) If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes,) yell "I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY" and holding it out will be a deterrent.

13) If someone grabs you, you can't beat them with strength but you can by outsmarting them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm (between the elbow and armpit) OR in the upper inner thigh - VERY VERY HARD. One woman in a class this guy taught told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her and was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands - the guy needed stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it; it hurts.

14) After the initial hit, always GO for the GROIN. I know from a particularly unfortunate experience that if you slap a guy's parts it is extremely painful. You might think that you'll anger the guy and make him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is that they want a woman who will not cause a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble, and he's out of there.

15) When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible. The instructor did it to me without using much pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked audibly.

16) Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don't dismiss it, go with your instincts!! You may feel a little silly at the time, but you'd feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO EVERY WOMAN YOU KNOW, IT'S SIMPLE STUFF BUT IT COULD SAVE HER LIFE !